Heriot-Watt University and Total agree £2.5 million research deal

Heriot-Watt University and energy giant Total have signed a five-year agreement to boost research and education.

The multimillion pound deal will see a partnership worth a minimum of £2.5 million, according to the education institution, and will cover global research and development and educational activities.

Sponsored PhD and postdoctoral studies, guest lectures and presentations, scholarships and internships will all be part of the package.

Seminars, training events, business and education forums will all feature site visits at both the university and industry-based sites.

Key priority

On a visit to the Edinburgh Campus of Heriot-Watt, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that the future of Scotland's offshore industry was a key priority for her government and that she was encouraged by the potential positive impacts the partnership will have.

Managing Director of Total E&P UK, Elisabeth Proust, and Dr Gillian Murray, Deputy Principal, Business and Enterprise, at Heriot-Watt, signed the deal which is intended to help ensure Scotland's oil and gas sector will work in tandem with the educational institution.

Dr Murray explained that the partnership is an extension of a long-term and much-valued working relationship between Total and her University, and that these arrangements are of great value to both educational development and the wider economy as well.

High-tech laboratories

The First Minister and representatives of Total E&P UK met with key academics involved in research funded by the company and toured the university's Institute of Petroleum Engineering high-tech laboratories and centres.

Speaking for Total E&P UK, Ms Proust called Heriot-Watt a world-renowned university and explained that the development of new and innovative technology through research projects was vitally important to the future of the offshore industry.

As well as oil and gas related research, Total also sponsors Heriot-Watt's year of Robotics and Ms Proust said she was delighted that the First Minister was able to come and see some examples of the new types of robotic technologies which will transform of the oil and gas industry.

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